HACKENSACK, N.J., Oct. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- "CLEANTECH NJ 2011: The Business of Clean Technology" (cleantechnj.com), New Jersey's first business- and investor-focused clean technology conference, expands its lineup of influential sponsors with the addition of Locke Lord LLP (www.lockelord.com), a full-service national law firm, and PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com), the global leader in commercial news distribution. The conference, which will convene prominent clean technology and energy stakeholders, will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the Woodbridge Hilton in Iselin, N.J.

Gaston Kroub, a Locke Lord partner, will participate on a panel, "The National Renewable Energy Roadmap: Planning, Funding, Developing Technologies," which will examine the current state of various cleantech sectors, the promise of each and what investors find attractive. Also confirmed for the panel are Mary Grikas, vice president, communications, PetraSolar; Serpil Guran, director of Rutgers EcoComplex; and Daniel A. Gross, partner, Hudson Clean Energy.

A second panel, "N.J.'s Dynamic Energy Future," will explore the future of New Jersey's renewable energy sector and how it is likely to be affected by changes in market conditions, state and federal policy initiatives and financial incentives. The panel, moderated by Tom Johnson, co-founder, energy and environment writer for NJ Spotlight, will feature Neil Cooper, co-founding and co-managing partner at SORINROYERCOOPER LLC; Jamie Hahn, managing director, Solis Partners; Richard F.X. Johnson, senior vice president, Matrix Development Group; and Guarav Naik, principal, GeoGenix.

CLEANTECH NJ 2011 will bring together senior executives of New Jersey-based clean technology, energy and professional services companies; government policymakers and regulators; institutional and "angel" investors; and thought leaders and environmental activists to leverage the region's competitive and economic strengths in the cleantech sector.

Caren S. Franzini, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, will deliver the keynote address. Mary Beth Brenner, assistant director of the Division of Economic Development and Energy Policy for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), will discuss the revision of the state's Energy Master Plan as the closing keynote speaker.

The event is being hosted by Antenna Group Inc., a nationally recognized strategic communications firm with a specialty in clean and renewable energy technologies.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the conference. Locke Lord joins such sponsors as Matrix Development Group, a privately held, full-service real estate investment and development company that has developed real estate valued in excess of $1 billion since its founding in 1979; Solis Partners, a leading developer and integrator of solar power systems for commercial, industrial and utility clients; GeoGenix, one of the state's oldest and largest solar integrators; and SORINROYERCOOPER, a new law firm focused on meeting the needs of emerging growth and middle-market sectors including technology, alternative energy and cleantech. The media sponsor is NJBIZ, the state's premier business journal.

In addition to compelling panel discussions with prominent clean energy business and thought leaders, conference attendees will have the opportunity to engage with others at a networking-focused luncheon and cocktail hour.

To register for the conference or for information on sponsorship, please visit www.cleantechnj.com.